What to Know About Vaccines and ‘Herd Immunity’

Video Transcript

SPEAKER: Want to protect
other people?
You don't need a black belt
or superpowers.
Just get the vaccines
your doctor recommends for you.
A vaccine dramatically lowers
your chances of catching
and spreading
an infectious disease.
And when lots of people
in your community get vaccinated
against an illness, everyone
becomes less likely to catch it.

This is called Herd Immunity.
It not only prevents outbreaks.
It also makes certain diseases,
like measles, become rare.
The protective powers of Herd
immunity especially benefit
pregnant women, infants,
and people who can't take
vaccines because of health
problems
that weaken their immune system.
But Herd Immunity can fade
if enough people choose not
to get the vaccines they need.
So do your community a favor--
get vaccinated.